1933 Worch Cigar Correspondence and Card

Fascinating one-page typed letter dated "Sep. 18, 1934" from the Worch Cigar Company of St. Paul, Minnesota in response to a collector requesting pictures of a few specific ball players from their series of baseball cards issued in 1933. This is a very interesting letter both because it directly links the Worch Cigar cards to the company (though it is well known they were issued by Worch Cigar and were sent by mail, the cards have no advertising) and directly explains exactly how the Worch Cigar cards were issued (you had to send in Worch Cigar bands by mail to the company to redeem them for cards of your choice). The letter reads in full: Dear Sir: We are in receipt of your bands for pictures, and we are today sending you some of the pictures. We are all out of the pictures of Bluege, Coleman, Schiver, Averill, Cronin, Gox [sic], and Gehrig. We will get these pictures the last of this week and them [sic.] we will forward them to you. Hoping that this is satisfactory, we remain - Yours very truly, Worch Cigar Company - Irene Manning [signed]. Accompanying the letter is an example of Hall of Famer Chic Hafey (Vg-Ex) from this very scarce premium tobacco set, which was made available only by mail. This is an interesting set both because of the glossy real-photo high-quality of the issue, and the fact that it is the only American baseball-card tobacco issue of the era. By 1933, baseball cards being issued by a tobacco company were the long forgotten standard, having been replaced by cards issued with bubble gum and candy. Cards issued with tobacco were throw backs to what was then "the old days," and apparently it was not a particularly successful promotion as it lasted only a single year. Baseball cards were not issued with tobacco in America again until the Red Man Chewing Tobacco sets of the early 1950s. Total: 2 items (letter and card). Reserve $100. Estimate (open).SOLD FOR $353

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